State Police Call Spying "Case Of Bad Judgement".

[NeoTheo]

Officers Infiltrate Anti-Death Penalty Group

An 11News I-Team investigation has revealed what prompted Maryland State police to infiltrate and spy on anti-death penalty groups.

According to Superintendent Col. Terrence Sheridan, the undercover officers began attending public meetings held by death penalty opponents in March, apparently in an effort to develop a plan of action for any rallies that turned violent.

Sheridan called the surveillance "Simply a case of bad judgement." Sheridan also admitted that the group had not broken any laws, and that the undercover investigation determined that the activists were not planning any violent protests.

State lawmakers are planning a series of hearings in the fall on the secret surveillance. However, as reported by David Collins, state police indicated they believe laws limiting their power are not necessary.



For me the bold underscored text says it all. If we except this, we are all done for.

[mth44sc]

1. Say what?

>> apparently in an effort to develop a plan of action for any rallies that turned violent.

[DFW]

2. Well, sure, they HAD to do that.

After, some of these anti-death people might have killed someone...........

[Edweird]

10. on one hand I see your obvious point and some tongue in cheek humor.

On the other, RW fundie nutbag pro-lifers have been known to bomb places and shoot people to "save lives". So, ya never know.....

[DCKit]

3. Failure to hold hearings and investigations, then pass legislation...

to control the police state would also be "bad judgment".

So let's not keep piling one bad judgment atop another.

[Arctic Dave]

4. Why do I have a gut feeling that it was more

then just Maryland police doing this.

[NeoTheo]

8. Maybe because

at some level you just intuitively know that in a authoritarian dictatorship that's how things are done all over.

I mean, let's face it, we have known for some time they are tapped into all of the major communication trunks and no on is going to do anything about it so why would they not be infiltrating groups they don't like. It's not like anyone is going to do anything about that either.

[norepubsin08]

5. What a bunch of lame ass bullshit

any anti-death penalty rally I have ever been at is usually sponsored by the Quakers, Amish, Mennonites, Unitarians, Jesuits and sometimes Lutherans along with peace and human rights groups. It is not in their nature to be violent...in fact they abhor violence (ie one of the reasons they oppose the death penalty) just another excuse for the cops and prosecutors to harrass those they don't agree with!

[treestar]

6. So they believe the Bill of Rights is "not necessary?"

People who can't pass a basic test about the laws of this land ought not to be qualified to become polce officers.

[NeoTheo]

9. They actually are not really qualified

to be citizens either, but apparently we are going to let them anyway.

[TexasObserver]

7. anti death penalty activists are about as non violent as you can get

I've been to a few vigils in Huntsville, Texas for the death penalty. We had one a few days ago for an execution. Yes, the executed man was a horrible guy who did a truly terrible thing. He brutally murdered a woman and her baby, after stalking her.

I was not at that one, but one of my sons was. There are very few people who show up for anti death penalty events. It's a hodge podge of nuns, Quakers, and assorted others. They oppose the death penalty because they believe (and I agree) that to execute humans is morally wrong for the state.